Guelph Experts to Study Global Food Security

GUELPH, Ontario May 15, 2013 - University of Guelph Release - A forum organized by the University of Guelph and the University of Saskatchewan will place food security in the spotlight for policy-makers, academics and students.

The National Food Security Forum 2013 will take place in two parts. Faculty from the University of Guelph will visit Saskatoon May 15 to17 to discuss agricultural production, biotechnology, food safety, environmental stewardship, changes in agribusiness and challenges faced by farmers. The second forum will occur in Guelph in December.

Prof. Sylvain Charlebois, forum co-chair, will be joined in Saskatoon by Profs. John Cranfield, Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics; Rene Van Acker, associate dean (external relations), Ontario Agricultural College; Art Hill, Food Science; and Evan Fraser, Geography.

“The sustainability of agricultural production is by no means assured; in particular, precious soil and water resources remain threatened worldwide,” says Charlebois, associate dean of the College of Management and Economics at Guelph.

“Obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease have become a global epidemic. Food authenticity and provenance have been eroded by globalization demands, threatening developing and ancient food cultures as well as choice for consumers worldwide. There is a need for action in Canada to connect agriculture and food communities together.”

Both events will help attendees learn about and address the world’s food issues, added Charlebois.

“With this forum, we can explore, learn, innovate, commercialize and make positive change to improve food quality, security, sustainability, appreciation and healthfulness around the world.”

Dates for the Guelph forum will be announced later this year. Organizers plan to release a public report and conceptual framework on Canada’s role in global food security after the Guelph symposium.

University of Guelph Professor creates App to help control soybean aphids

A smart phone application that helps farmers decide quickly and easily whether to spray to control soybean aphids

GUELPH, Ontario - May 09, 2013 - University of Guelph - In the News - Environmental Sciences professor Rebecca Hallett is featured today on CBC’s online news page. A smart phone application she helped developed is part of a story on new technology helping the farming industry.

Farmers can use the app - Aphid Advisor - to decide whether or not to use insecticide to control aphids on soybeans, based on numbers of aphids and their natural enemies.

Hallett developed the app with Tracey Baute, a field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and a U of G graduate, and Christie Bahlai, a U of G grad student in environmental biology. It’s based on research conducted in the School of Environmental Sciences and the Department of Plant Agriculture.

Read more

The Co-operators recognized among Canada's Green 30

GUELPH, Ontario, May 9, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Co-operators has once again been recognized for its commitment to protecting the environment as several of its member companies were listed among Canada's Green 30 by Aon Hewitt for the fourth consecutive year. The list, which is based on Canadian employees' impressions of their employers' environmental performance, was published in the May 20 issue of Maclean's magazine, on newsstands today.

This year, Co-operators Life Insurance Company of Regina, The Sovereign General Insurance Company, based in Calgary, and The Co-operators, including The Co-operators Group Limited, Co-operators General Insurance Company, and Montreal-based Addenda Capital, took three of the 30 spots.

"People want to work for companies that act responsibly, and they really get behind initiatives and policies that align with their personal values," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Across the country and throughout our group of companies, our employees' support for the organization's efforts to advance environmental and social sustainability has been incredible."

As a co-operative insurer, The Co-operators strives to be a good citizen and a catalyst for sustainability. This involves balancing economic, environmental, and social priorities in order to conduct business in a way that minimizes negative impact and strengthens communities. . For example, The Co-operators is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated through their operations by 50 per cent by 2014 and collaborating with organizations such as Ceres to support the development of more resilient cities. . Detailed information on the organization's performance is available in its sustainability report, which was released today on www.cooperators.ca.

Aon Hewitt is a global consulting company that compiles the Best Small and Medium Employers, and Best Employers in Canada lists. Companies on those lists are automatically considered for the Green 30, as green initiatives go hand in hand with attracting, and retaining employees. The Green 30 is compiled based on staff perceptions of environmental initiatives, and their employers' efforts to consider long-term social, environmental, and economic factors when making decisions.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $35 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

Canadian Grocery Shoppers Equate Freshness with Local

- New Egg Farmers of Canada survey also shows the majority of households say imported foods cannot be fresh -

OTTAWA, May 1, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians overwhelmingly demand that the farm products they buy be fresh, with 90 percent saying that farms within their province deliver that freshness, says a new survey conducted for the Egg Farmers of Canada. Distance from farm to grocery store is seen as the key to freshness. Eighty per cent are confident products from within Canada are at peak quality when purchased. Conversely, 53 per cent believe imported foods cannot be considered fresh.

"In an age where grocery aisles are filled with foods from around the world, it is clear that Canadians place the highest value on locally produced food, exactly what the system of supply management allows for," says Bonnie Cohen, Manager of Marketing and Nutrition for Egg Farmers of Canada. "The results are identical regardless of socio-economic status, telling us that all households want the food they feed their families produced by local farmers."

Eighty-two per cent of Canadians polled say they are confident the eggs they buy are fresh. This was the highest scoring category in the question that also asked about poultry, beef, vegetables and fruits.

Egg farmers in Canada operate under a supply management system that ensures local family farms receive the fair and stable prices they need to be among the world's most efficient producers of top quality eggs.

"The unique system of supply management is the reason our farmers can deliver the freshness and quality that Canadian consumers expect and demand," says Cohen.

The survey, conducted by Vision Critical, polled 3,015 Canadians 18 or older in the second week of April. The results have a margin of error of +/- 1.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

About Egg Farmers of Canada

Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) is a not-for-profit national organization that forecasts demand for eggs, promotes eggs and develops national standards for egg farming. Our organization came into being in 1972 and was established as the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency under the Farm Products Agencies Act. We have a 16-member Board of Directors made up of an egg farmer from each province and the Northwest Territories, a representative of the Consumers' Association of Canada, three representatives from the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council and a Chair of the Board. Our goal is to provide Canadians with a secure supply of high quality Canadian-produced eggs.

Emergency Preparedness Week May 5 - 11, 2013

GUELPH, Ontario - April 24, 2013 - Wellington County News Release - Emergency Preparedness Week runs May 5-11. This is a great time to educate yourself about the risks in your community and learn how to “Be Better Prepared” in an emergency situation.

Know the Hazards in your Community. This is the first step to ensuring the safety of yourself and your family. Is your community susceptible to flooding? Has your community ever experienced a tornado?

Prepare a plan. Go to www.getprepared.ca to prepare your Emergency Home Plan.

Assemble a 72 hour emergency kit. The first 72 hours of any disaster are critical. Become disaster-resilient. Remember to include the needs of all family members – infants, children, seniors and pets.

Emergency Preparedness Week Activities:

...Visit a Wellington County Library branch during the week of May 5-11.

...Enter a draw for an emergency kit and an emergency car kit at any of the library branches.

...Visit your municipal office and enter a draw for a Weather Radio.

...Visit the County’s Emergency Management Booth at the Fergus Lions Club Home and Leisure Show, May 8-10 at the Centre Wellington Sportsplex.

Attend the Guelph/Eramosa Fire Department Emergency Preparedness Day on May 4, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Study Aims to Improve Rural Internet Access

GUELPH, Ontario - April 19, 2013 - University of Guelph News Release - Improving high-speed Internet access for rural residents of southwestern Ontario is the goal of a new feasibility study involving University of Guelph researchers.

Working with the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), the Guelph team will survey public-sector organizations, businesses, farmers and residents about their needs for scalable, ultra-high-speed broadband and the availability of network infrastructure.

One in five Canadians — most of them in rural areas — lack Internet access.

In the first of several planned community seminars, rural community leaders met today at U of G to discuss existing and future Internet requirements.

“In recent years, different levels of government and the private sector have teamed up to develop Ontario’s rural broadband infrastructure, but the quality of service and affordability are still major concerns,” said Prof. Helen Hambly Odame, a rural extension expert in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.

“Today’s meeting was about overcoming obstacles to one of the major drivers of agricultural and rural innovation.”

Wilson Halder, who is studying rural broadband use in Wellington County for his master’s degree in capacity development and extension, will be a research assistant on the project.

Canada was once a leader in Internet capacity, but parts of the country still lack access and rural broadband connectivity, said Halder.

“For me, this study and the community seminar has further illustrated the importance of Internet access and some of the challenges and requirements associated with meeting the concerns of those with limited access to broadband or none at all.”

Nicole Markwick, a recent U of G graduate and now a research assistant with the study, said:

“We’re working towards better capacity and connectivity in the area. The social and economic implications are massive.”

Improved Internet access is a key to economic competitiveness and social development, according to WOWC. The organization says government, rural communities, service providers and business enterprises need to work together to overcome geographical, technical and financial challenges.

The study is funded by WOWC, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Ministry of Rural Affairs. To register for upcoming seminars or to complete the survey, visit www.wowc.ca

Guelph Research Improving Food Production in Developing Countries

GUELPH Ontario - April 05, 2013 - University of Guelph News Release - Two University of Guelph projects have earned praise from the federal government as models of innovative scientific research making a difference in developing countries.

Work by plant agriculture professors Jayasankar Subramanian and Manish Raizada was recognized today by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC)).

Federal officials were in Guelph to meet the U of G professors and to launch Phase 2 of the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), which will run for five more years and provide an additional $62.5 million in support.

The announcement and U of G research were featured today in the Toronto Star.

CIFSRF supports partnerships between Canadian and developing-country researchers to help subsistence farmers find practical solutions to hunger and malnutrition. Funded by CIDA and IDRC, the program is a key component of Canada’s food security strategy announced at the 2009 G8 meeting.

Phase 1 – also a five-year, $62-million initiative – covered 19 projects with researchers from 11 Canadian universities and 26 organizations. The two Guelph projects were singled out as examples of effective initiatives.

“These projects reflect the University of Guelph’s commitment to being engaged globally,” said Kevin Hall, Guelph’s vice-president (research).

“Working with IDRC and CIDA, the goal is to find ways to use our research and training strengths to address critical issues such as food security and scarcity, and to find simple solutions that improve the quality of people’s daily lives. In addition to economic benefits, we want our efforts to help bring about positive social change.”

Subramanian developed innovative packaging to reduce post-harvest losses in mangoes, the second largest fruit crop in India and third in Sri Lanka. Farmers often lose 35 to 40 per cent of their crops - worth $800 million a year - because of poor storage.

Patented technology created by the Guelph-led team uses plant-derived chemical compounds to reduce post-harvest loss. Special fruit cartons, dividers and wraps lined with nanoparticles from coconut husks and banana plants help to prolong freshness and improve quality.

The nanoparticles come from agricultural waste products, creating new income opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs, particularly women. Read more

Raizada introduced “tool kits” to more than 2,000 marginalized farmers in Nepal, Sri Lanka and India to help boost millet production. The hardy, nutritious grain is an important crop in Asia and Africa; seven million farmers produce minor millets in South Asia alone.

The kits contain seed packages, storage bags that prevent fungus and insects from spoiling harvested millets, and micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium and iron. Instructional booklets tell farmers how to conduct simple field tests and how to produce the highest yield.

Farmers were also encouraged to use some of the extra income earned by increasing production to send their children – especially their girls – to school. Read more

Today’s event was attended by Lois Brown, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation and Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora; Darren Schemmer, VP, Partnership with Canadians Branch, CIDA; and Stephen J. McGurk, Director, Agriculture and Environment, IDRC.